It was just a matter of time before the Ford Explorer crashed head on with a white Nissan Rogue, killing all three people inside, Deniro Orozco-Montes, 35, of Arlington, Priscilla Silva Araujo Valencia, 28, of Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Orlando Orozco, 37, of Miami, Florida.

The two in the Explorer, Carlos Rangel, 25, and Ricardo Morales, 21, both of Powell, Texas, were airlifted to Dallas hospitals with serious injuries.

Three other cars were involved. A silver Toyota Avalon rear-ended the Nissan, and two others, a blue Lexus LX470 and a white Toyota Highlander, sustained minor damage trying to avoid the wreckage.

It happened in a construction zone, where each side of the highway narrows into two lanes.

"When everything collided it was just bad," said Jackson. "Everything was crinkled up, nothing would open. People running around screaming and hollering."

Jackson and his son ran across the highway to try to help those in the Nissan, but it was too late.

"You couldn't get none of the doors open, all we could do was bust out windows," said Jackson.

The Toyota Avalon's driver was taken to a nearby hospital "with possible injuries."

Troopers are still investigating why the driver of the Explorer was going the wrong way on I-45. They expect charges will be filed.